Container and device for safe delivery of perishable merchandise



C. WEISS Filed Feb. 9, 1955 May 15, 1934.

CONTAINER AND DEVICE FOR SAFE DELIVERY OF PERISHABLE MERCHANDISE Jill;

IO 0 inn" UI O EEIW'I l Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER AND DEVICE FOR SAFE DE- LIVERY OF PERISHABLE MERCHANDISE 8 Claims.

bil-ity of theft to a minimum. The perishability of, certain foodstuffs inv hot weather adds to the difficulties and makes. such a device more desirable.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above disadvantages, one object of the invention being to provide a containeror device adapted to permit the delivery of the merchandise during anextended period of time as well as the removal of it by the owner only.

'20 According to the invention means are provided for the refrigeration of the goods deposited without using; ice which, by melting, would cause deterioration of the container and other inconveniences. The purpose is achieved by using dry ice in, easily accessible pockets in the container. It isan important feature of the invention, that no keys are required to close or open the container and: therefore its handling is simple and safe.v Another object: is that, the container is held in safe position by the door orwindow thereby preventing unauthorized opening of the container. Another object, is, that, the lock mechanism is operated by the merchandise placed, in the container, so that the cover cannot be locked before delivery is; effected, so that the container cannot be closed; by unauthorized persons in order to prevent the safe delivery of: the goods.

Another object is that the member of the device by which the snap latch. can be released is -50. to prevent the locking of" the container.

Other objects will: appear in the detailed specifi'cation.

Asthedelivery can be made both to the door or window these expressions are to be regarded as interchangeable and: when hereafter the door is mentioned in the specification and claims either of the two is to be understood.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the inner mechanism of the container.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the container showing the inner mechanism at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view with parts of the cover broken away.

Fig. 4 is a detail, showing the locking lever.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the snap latch.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the release member perspectively.

The container 1 has an inner wall 2' which is to fastened to the former at 3 forming a suitable space 6 for the cover. In order to secure the inner bottom 33 more rigidly a connection 36 can be provided therefor. The cover 4 is likewise provided with an inner wall 5 which fits into the (5 enlarged space 6 of the container. In the rear the cover is rolled at 7 to fit between bearings 8 formed at both ends of the container, so that both parts can be turned around the pin 9. A spring 35 is placed over the pin 9 so as to keep the cover in open position. Out of the inner wall 5 of the cover portions 9A and 9B are bent up, so as to form bearings for the studs 10 of the double armed lever or striking plate 11. This lever is formed at the rear end as a pair of arms 12 suitably formed to reach into the container, so that it contacts the merchandise inserted therein.

The snap latch is comprised of two members 14-15, which are fulcrumed over pin 16, which is fastened to the channel 19. The lever 11 is forked at the front end 13, so that it fits over the snap latch and is of such dimensions and location that when the cover is closed it will force the two members ll15 of the snap-latch together, so that the forked end 13 can pass and snapinto the recess 34. A spring 17 is placed over the pin 16 and reaches with its ends into holes 18, so that the twomembers of the snap-latch will tend to-spread apart. A channel 19 is fastened by its sides 20- to the outer wall 21 in the space between the two Walls of the container, it sustains the snap latch and provides a limit to the lateral motion of the parts l415. The ends of the snap latch extend thru a cut out of the inner wall of the container. A slide arm 23 is fitted in the channel 19 and is bent and forked at one end 22; the other end 24 is bent at about right angles to reach outside of the container and contact the bottom of the door. I have shown this extension as additional to the flange in the'height, but, of course,

it can be made even by cutting out a suitable part of the flange. Near the end the slide arm or push rod has an elongated hole or slot 25 thru which the pin 16 reaches, so that the vertical motion of the slide arm by which the snap latch can be opened is limited. A flange 26 is secured to the container rigidly at 27 in such a way that it flts under the door 28 holding the container in a fixed location.

In the container two pockets 2930 are provided to receive dry ice, having at the upper end an opening for this purpose. A special cover for each pocket can be used, of course, to protect the dry ice while the cover of the container is open. These pockets are preferably perforated to convey the cooling air more effectively. They can be fastened to the inner wall of the container in any conventional manner, or made removable for cleaning purposes. I regard it of advantage to have these pockets located opposite each other, but also another arrangement, or merely one pocket can be used.

The container is supported by ball shaped rollers 31-32 to permit the container to travel frictionless in any direction when the door is opened, avoiding scratching and wear of the floor.

The locking lever or strike plate 11 is preferably balanced in its bearings, but not of necessity, and the end reaching into the container can be made adjustable in the depth to fit merchandise of various height.

The operation of the device is as follows. The container is placed with the flange 26 under the door where it will be held in a fixed location so j that the extension 24: and with it the releasing arm 23 will be forced down by the door, the cover remaining unlocked and is kept normally open by the spring 35 indicating that the container is empty, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The container is divided more or less into two compartments by the pockets 2930 between which the bottles can be placed. When the bottle is delivered and the cover closed the arm 12 will contact the top of the bottle so that the front end 13 with the out out 13A will strike the bevelled end of the snap latch, forcing the two members 14-15 against the spring 17 together until the recess 34 is reached into which the fork snaps. Now the cover is closed and the goods cannot be removed until the door is opened and the container travels back on its rollers. Upon removing the container from its place the extension 24 will be free, so that the slide arm 23 can be pushed upward. By the action of the forked end 22 which slides over sides 36, the snap latch willbe opened and the cover raised.

I have shown one compartment filled with a bottle, but of course, both can be filled with vari ous goods, and the device will operate as long as goods of the proper height are placed in one compartment. In order to equalize the height in case a bottle of smaller size is used a fillet can be placed under the bottle or the arm 12 can be made of two pieces which are adjustable in length by a 7, hand screw in the conventional manner. For the purpose of equalizing small differences which might result between the recess 34 and the top of the milk bottle, the arm 12 can be made flexible, but of such a strength that the snap latch will be positively operated. In the example illustrated the snap latch is situated vertically, but one with lateral motion can also be used.

It is to be borne in mind, that many changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention and the embodiment shown should be regarded as an illustration and not in limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising a container having a hinged cover, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a locking member cooperating with the snap latch pivoted to the cover and operated by the contents of the container, a releasing member for the said snap latch, a channel shaped flange secured to the container hugging the bottom rail of the door adapted to hold the container in a fixed location outside the door, a lateral extension on said releasing member held inaccessibly by the door in position so that while the container is being kept in location by the door said extension will be retained to prevent the operation of the releasing member and the opening of the container.

2. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising a container having heat insulating double walls, a perforated pocket within the container adjacent the merchandise to be cooled to receive dry ice, a hinged cover for the container, a spring tending to keep the cover in open position, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a double armed lever co-operating with the snap latch pivoted to the cover and operated by the merchandise in the container adaptedto lock the cover when the goods are delivered, a channel shaped flange secured to the container hugging the bottom rail of the door to keep the container in a fixed location when the door is closed, a slide bar on the container capable of opening the snap latch, an extension on said slide bar retained inaccessibly by the door so that the connected sliding bar is prevented from releasing the snap latch as long as the container is kept in location by the door.

3. In a container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise in combination, a container having a hinged cover, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a double armed lever co-operating with said snap latch pivoted to the cover adapted to be operated by the merchandise in the container, and to lock the cover, a sliding bar within the walls of the container adapted to open said snap latch, a channel shaped flange secured to the container in a way to be inserted under the door to secure the container in a fixed location when the door is closed, an extension on said sliding bar to operate the latter fitted under the door, the parts being constructed and arranged so that while the container is kept by the door in a. fixed location, said extension is kept inaccessibly and retained by the door so that the slide bar is prevented from opening said snap latch.

4. In a container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise in combination, a container having a hinged cover a snap latch situated vertically to arrest the cover, a double armed locking lever jointed to the cover and having a pair of arms extending into the container to contact the merchandise therein, said locking lever having another arm which is forked to operate the snap latch with a vertical movement when the cover is closed, a flange secured to the container in a Way to fit under the door to secure the container in a. fixed position, a sliding bar having means to release said snap latch, an extension on said sliding bar fitted under the door to retain the slide bar in an inoperable position, the parts being constructed and arranged so that the slide bar is prevented by said extension from releasing the snap latch as long as the container is kept by the door in a fixed location.

5. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising a container having a hinged cover, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a locking member cooperating with the snap latch pivoted to the cover and operated by the contents of the container, ball shaped rollers supporting said container to permit a frictionless motion when the door is opened, a releasing member for operating said snap latch comprising a sliding bar and having a fork for operating the snap latch, a channel shaped flange secured to the container adapted to be inserted under and kept by the bottom rail of the door in a fixed position, an extension on said releasing member held by the bottom rail of the door in a retracted position so that while the container is being kept in location by the door said extension will prevent operation of the releasing member and the opening of the container.

6. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising a container having heat insulating double walls, two perforated pockets at opposite sides in the container till the snap latch, an extension on said slide bar kept in retracted position by the bottom rail of the door so that the operation of the slide bar is prevented as long as the container is kept in location by the door.

7. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising a container having a hinged cover, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a locking member including a double armed striking plate co-operating with the snap latch pivoted to the cover and operated by the contents of the container, said striking plate being capable of swinging back from the snap latch while the container is empty, a releasing member for said snap latch including a sliding bar provided with a lateral extension and fork for the snap latch at opposite ends, said flange and bar extension being operable when inserted under the door to hold the container in a fixed location so that the releasing member can be operated and container opened after its removal from the door only.

8. A container and device to be placed outside the door or window of a house for the safe delivery of perishable merchandise including milk bottles, the combination comprising, acontainer having a hinged cover, a snap latch on the container to arrest the cover, a double armed balanced lever pivoted to said cover co-operating with said snap latch and actuated to a co-operating position by the contents of the container, a channel shaped flange secured to the container hugging the bottom rail of the door, a releasing member for said snap latch including a. sliding bar situated within the walls of the container, a lateral extension on said releasing member reaching outside the container contiguous with said flange and abutting against the bottom rail of the door and retained there so that while the flange and container are kept in fixed location by the closed door, the lateral extension will be held inaccessibly and the releasing bar rendered unoperable to prevent the opening of the container.

CHARLES WEISS. 

